[Closed] Jones: Worth selling rest of your bikes for?

If fat bikes or Jones' became common a lot of the current riders move onto something [s]else to stand out from the crowd[/s] new because they like trying new things.

It's not really that complicated.
I've had a jones for around 5 years.
Same amount of time i've had a nomad.
Any bike i like stays.
Any bike that i don't goes.

Nothing to do with anything else.
You're trying to read far to much into things.

I ride my bikes because i like the way they feel.
The last thing I think about when handing some cash over is what will someone i don't know think of it.

BTW
My chain's nice a clean ready for a ride out tonight. 🙂

wow and i thought fat bikes could cause a storm in a tea cup personally i quite like the look of them and living in the south east a 29er makes sense and as my area is mainly clay with big sections of sandy soil the fat front option also makes sense never ridden one let alone seen one in the flesh but would like a go if the chance came up after all bikes are bikes arn't they 🙂

The Simpler you make things, the richer the experiance becomes.

Just put my Big Fat Larry on mine, I just wasn't getting enough attention running the Knard up front 😉

It's the same with people riding fat bikes on normal trails, sure they might be having fun but just don't try and make a case that it performs better than a decent XC FS bike

Seeing someone on a half fat bike on the trails must drive you nuts then, what's wrong with having fun, and why does it have to be better than a fully skill compensator ???

This thread needs some more GNARR

[img] [/img]

He's clearly having a terrible time on his rigid bike.

Decent fs xc bikes? Been there done that

It's funny isn't it how riding a simple rigid (SS even) bike is regarded as odd, when really it's just a set of tubes joined together.

Yet putting front bouncy forks with half a dozen tuning adjustments and controls on the bars, rear shocks, various pivots, bearings and swinging bits, up to 30 gears and dealing with shifters for both ends, long chains (that break), chainsuck, dangly bits that get broken in the undergrowth, bendy gear hangers so that doesn't mash your frame, is all regarded as 'normal'.

The Jones truss fork has, presumably, 0 moving parts.

The Rebas I bought have (guesses) 50 or more parts? The tuning was positive air, negative air, rebound, and damping. 4 variables, in infinite combinations, to get it 'right'. It did my head in if I'm honest.

Does not compute, does it?

(suspect I am talking myself into buying a Jones, or the poor man's alternative, a Krampus).

I don't think Jeff does any marketing as such - I did see a tiny advert in a magazine 5 years ago. Other than a blog, I think jeff's only marketing is to a have a big beard!! Judging by the adverse beardy comments, that's not working too well 😉

Oh and stop banging on about how expensive they are - £815 will get you a steel frame and fork, it has exactly the same geometry as a Ti Spaceframe.

I don't think a Krampus will be that much cheaper than a steel Diamond, also they're much harder to get hold of.

Oh and stop banging on about how expensive they are - £815 will get you a steel frame and fork, that has exactly the same geometry as a Ti Spaceframe.

Less than a (forkless) Niner Sir 9 or a (forkless) Ritchey P29er - both of which I have nearly bought in the past.

[i]I don't think Jeff does any marketing as such[/i]

the best marketing is always invisible 😉

just don't try and make a case that it performs better than a decent XC FS bike.

We'd need to define 'performs better' before anyone can consider that point.

Personally I'd define performance as the interaction between rider and bike, ergonomics; the enjoyment of riding it which is highly subjective; and the bike's ability to do what the rider wants it to, again pretty subjective.
I reckon it's a waste of time unless it's in a std mag test way which is still no more than a guide based on an informed opinion. Which is more than some of contributors to this thread have 🙂

It's not the look people are buying, you would have to be stupid to spend that sort of money on a look... And many jones owners have the regular diamond frame with the uncrowned fork... Looks like a normal bike.

If you wanna stand out, save some money, simply tattoo your face and cut the arse out of your trousers.

People generally don't move on to another bike to stand out from the crowd. They adopt new designs, new concepts and new tweaks on old concepts. Have an open mind any enjoy experiencing alternative designs.

What blows me away is the assertion the people buy these to stand out, be different or show off. The Jones owners I know also don't look down on people with normal bikes. We all had a rockhopper (or similar) once.

For something different to be adopted:
It's got to be available
Affordable
And have a perceived advantage over there current set up.

So why do Jones stir things up... Some people can't afford a jones, and don't get the design concept so don't get the perceived advantage, or in their world it has no advantage (DH racing for example) A jones also challenges excepted bike design theory with no springs and levers, what was an odd wheel size, crazy bars etc.. so challenges someone's previous buying decisions, and in extreme cases it can be perceived as almost inferring that you and your current bike is wrong.

The relaxed and considered reality is that people buy them because they have researched it, probably tested it, evaluated it against their own unique set of needs (based on ride style, terrain, bank account etc) and gone for it...

People ride these bikes because they work very well, if its design matches your criteria.

the poor man's alternative, a Krampus

it's cool James, I've ridden neither a Krampus or a Jones, I was just being a bit flippant really. (And that's useful POV actually).

re looks I saw a truss-forked Jones on someone's roof in town the other day, I thought it didn't look as odd in the flesh as it does on the screen.

I still don't get it.

What I do get is people out there like the back-to-basics (Amish - I'm not letting that one go!) feel of riding a track on a bike with no suspension. I started riding when all bikes had no suspension and I enjoyed it as much then as I do today on the variety of bikes I own.

But why not just hark back to the days of old and get a rigid framed, normal wheeled, bike? An Inbred with a rigid fork maybe?

Why has old fashioned needed to be re-invented for the modern day? And if you want to get more in touch with the trail why are you using disk brakes - surely that must be seen as some kind of performance advantage that takes away from the purity of riding?

I'm not being grumpy here (well I'm not trying to be) - I just honestly do not get it. My old Marin Bolinas ridge was £230 complete and meets all the simple purist needs that are being talked about.

Would I want to try one - hell yes. I've ridden some very odd bikes over the years.

Would I want to own one - hell no. They are ugly (subjective, I appreciate) and I can't see why they represent any sort of giggle value at the price they are. If they were a couple of hundred quid I'd probably buy one for giggle rides a couple of times a year.

Yadda yadda yadda,I'm still sticking with my wheelbarrow comment,looks better too...................

challenges someone's previous buying decisions, and in extreme cases it can be perceived as almost inferring that you and your current bike is wrong.

drs****... It's nothing like your old rigid bike. The angles are unique, giving it unique handling. This is a summary from dirt rag.

"With short chainstays and a shorter trail number, thanks to a slacker headtube angle and more fork offset, his bikes are markedly more playful than your average 29er hardtail—just look at that tight wheelbase on this test bike. Think of it as a large-wheeled BMX bike that’s comfortable for long, long days in the saddle."
Justin Steiner,
Dirt Rag Magazine

Would I want to try one - hell yes

Would I want to own one - hell no.

This was my line of thinking until i tried one.

If someone liked the way a full susser rides but it's ugly and expensive would people be so upset about it?
No i don't think they would.

So why the problem with someone that likes rigid bikes buying something they like.

Seems kind of strange to me.

As for being the same as any old rigid bike, it's not the same at all.
the first thing that struck me was how can it be so stable but still remain quick steering.
I'm told it's all to do with the head angle and larger offset of the fork.

i'm sure James could explain in a lot more detail seen as i believe that's the kind of field he works in.

"As I roll down the chute in the trail of death
I look at my rigid bike and see tubes like a mess
but that's just perfect for an Amish like me
you know I shun fancy things like gears and electricity...

..been spending most my life
riding in an Amish paradise.."

DrRS**** you reminded me of the Al Yankovich classic..

The Marin point.. starting from scratch and fine tuning a rigid bike's ergonomics to the nth degree is what Jeff's done, if bikes hadn't developed suspension that's probably where they'd have ended up. I've wondered if suspension came about originally to make up for small wheels with sub-2" tyres on 17mm rims and a crap riding position with way too much weight on the front.. Sus is a natural progression of course, just one of those thoughts.

jameso - Member
challenges someone's previous buying decisions, and in extreme cases it can be perceived as almost inferring that you and your current bike is wrong.

Spot on - I know I wondered if I did the right thing buying my Jones ti when 2 friends got Ibis Mojo HDs with some very nice kit for not a lot more shortly after. No regrets though. And they still let me ride with them )

Actually this is a very important components of business that is often over looked. Some companies will tell you how great a bike is, and six months later tell you that everything has improved and you need a new bike..." What, eh, but you just told me this is the best bike!!"

What a smart business will do is reinforce the original buying decision, help keep the customer in love with his bike. This is how you build grass roots word of mouth sincere recommendations.

Alternatively you can tweak everything every year, keep the shareholders happy by selling more and more bikes, upset existing customers by making them less than happy with their bike - wanting more... and fuel all of this with the most expensive and ineffective form of communication know to man (advertising).

Some bike brands are a full on business... Some are a beardy bloke in a log cabin who rides really effin well.

CTBM - true.. Ideally you do what classics like the early Konas, the 5 and the Soul do, subtly evolve when it's justifiable without undermining the previous design. You can only do that if you get it pretty much right first time.

SSS, I could but not with the clarity that Jeff explains it and I still think the overall layout is inspired. There's an image on his site that's very telling of how he approached the design. Took him a number of custom builds and test bikes to arrive at that design but it was all based on a theory that to me makes me wonder (like all good ideas) why no-one else came up with it earlier - the proliferation of suspension and 'the way things are' I guess.

I've just come back from a ride,in a new place,with a good mate,on my new (to me) JJ space frame SS with fat front,that I've wanted for 6 or 7 years,I had to borrow the money to buy it.
I'm happy as a pig in poo.
don't give a toss what any one else thinks about me or my bike,all I know is that today was what it's all about,for me. 🙂

sod you lot yacking on, I'm off out riding on my ultra-niche Selma (only 50 ever imported I'm told), several miles of hard fast trails with my ride buddies then a few pints by a glowing fire I hope.

Thumbs up for keef and mattjg ..

I'm jonesing for one of these

[img] [/img]

I gotta say keefs space frame looks ****in ace in the flesh, pictures don't do them justice

Just off out myself.

Meet mates, ride, pub, ride home.

It's what it's all about. 😀

OK, as a wee one I've always been skeptical of the one size fits all and normally of the "I have a Jones" brigade. But I tried riding 2. I can honestly say as soon as I sat on the steel spaceframe I thought bl**dy hell it's a spot on set up, then I did a route I know, then I swapped and tried the Diamond. I'm converted. In my humble opionion the Diamond frame is good but not significantly better than my Karate Monkey. But the Spaceframe is another story. I've started selling bikes...........
It won't do everything I do but I hope it'll do the vast majority.
So if you haven't tried one stop moaning and actually ride something different and with an open mind, you never know you may actually like it......

If your bike makes you smile every time that you ride it, then I guess that it's money well spent. My new Trance 29er makes me smile every time that I ride it......but maybe that's just because I've started riding again and am realising what I've been missing for the last 12 months? It's all riding bikes at the end of the day-chuck in a decent bunch of mates and beer-even better........keef and emac will suffice though!

Jones are still for saddo attention whores with small knobs though 😈

my question would be : when you get bored with the jones, where do you go from there? im only asking because i get the impression you would buy one because you have exhausted all other bike options, is it not a retirement bike really?

Tom B thinks I'm his mate........what a knobber 😉

my question would be : when you get bored with the jones, where do you go from there?

You go riding instead of hanging out on internet forums.

Admittedly my last post was a bit trollish and for sure, the bike you enjoy riding is the right bike for you. I have to say though people referring to short-travel XC FS bikes as skills compensators make me smile, surely the point of a Jones having a truss fork, fat tyres and being a 29er is all about smoothing out the trail a bit, exactly what full suspension does (only it's better damped and more tuneable). By that logic a Jones is a skills compensator compared with a standard 26" rigid bike...

By that logic a Jones is a skills compensator compared with a standard 26" rigid bike...

Maybe. Does it matter?

I get the feeling from this thread the Jones owners are happy with their bikes and not bothered by how they're called. It's the sceptics who seem to get in tizzies about the different bells, whistles and widgets that can go on their bikes.

Does anything in this thread matter? :p I'm just making the point that as jibes go then Jones rider deriding a 'skills compensator' doesn't make much sense.

Does anything in this thread matter?

No. Nothing actually matters, we're all just space dust being transformed to worm food. But that's another topic.

Jones rider deriding

Did they though?

Jones rider

is this different to mountain biker or cyclist? it's just a bike, (albeit a magical dandyhorse of epic proportions that seems to evoke a strange response in those that have no interest in it?)

Odd old thing the mountain biking lark these days, or at least this forum is strange place, where everyone must conform to the "norm" or else is told repeatedly they are wrong by those with no experience in the subject matter. Do we expect a visit from the thought police to take us to ministry for re-education where we will be subjected to constant MBR and MBUK abuse until we are at one with the hive? 😯

Lucky we have radical free thinkers like you to help stop us from being such conformist slaves to the man though eh? 🙂

And you accuse others of taking themselves too seriously. Oh the ironing etc

And all those who claim not to care about what others think seem to have spent an awful lot of time justifying their purchasing decisions. 😕 I've been out riding my (bland, mainstream) bike in the sunshine.

And all those who claim not to care about what others think seem to have spent an awful lot of time justifying their purchasing decisions.

or just discussing it on a thread about Jones bikes rather than trying to derail a thread by posting a load of negative crap about stuff you have no interest in, hey grumpy 😆

glad you enjoy your riding, it's nice to see post something positive for once. xx

I'm interested in brands and identity, perceived value, etc. Been doing some research recently for my business and you lot provide some fascinating data. 😉

Do I want a Jones? Yes
Space frame? No
Diamond? Yes
Can I afford it? No

On that basis I ride my bike with a fat front and one gear
Does it make me smile? Yes
I also have a bike with bounce and gears
Does that make me smile? Yes

Do I care what others think of what I ride? No
If folk like a particular bike make and can afford it. Fine

Now i know this is going to go a bit against the trend but....Fontmoss...I think the answer you're looking for is probably yes. If you're coming to the south side of london then you'll likely ride swinley and surrey hills. At both places you will be able to ride any of the runs and have a great time doing it on a fat front Jones. I can do so on my swift with a rigid front and i'm no amazing rider. Sure some of the rougher, faster runs round Peaslake will be a bit jiggly but they're still a giggle and you can always slow down.

Funny thing is, if someone said my bike's ugly & not fit for purpose,why do you ride it etc etc....
I wouldn't careless,certainly wouldn't feel the need to justify it & why I ride it.... 8)

grum please do share what you believe you have learnt from this thread

Now i know this is going to go a bit against the trend but....Fontmoss

IMO:

* sell your CX if you're not or not going to use it = make your life and move easier
* keep the Superfly for now, maybe get some Niner carbon forks, and see how you get on with it once you've moved and ridden 'down our way'. Do your move, let the dust settle, demo a Jones and other bikes at leisure and a path may then become apparent

IMO your Superfly probably won't fetch anywhere near as much as it's worth to you as a ridable bike

Ahhh jj who'd have thought you'd have something to say on this thread 🙂